Eric's Beijing Diary

China is sometimes referred to as a culture of shame. But it appears that the police in Guanzhou have done one now that is too much for even the most traaditional Chinese. This time the outrage is not coming from human rights fanatics in the West. The outrage is coming from people all over China. The country is in an uproar over a public shaming of prostitutes in Guangzhou.

I was impressed that the Wall Street Journal piece on the subject this weekend mentioned the effect of a whole generation of people growing up in a society where they have been told that there is no God, and therefore no one to whom they are accountable (as long as they don't get caught).

I for one, really do want to see the government crack down on prostitution. But the people who really irritate me are the pinps. I certainly don't justify what the prostitutes are doing. But they have never been pushy with me. They have always been very polite, and when I say "no," they back off. Again, that doesn't justify their low sense of morality. I don't view prostitution as a victimless crime, nor do I see the prostitutes as a the primary victims. Society is the victim. And as polite as they may be, prostitution is predatory behaviour. Granted, many of the "victims" are quite willing victims. Still, they should not be encouraged down the wrong raod.

But again, my real irritation here in China is with the scum who are using women to make money for themselves. If there were a parade of pimps, I wouldn't complain. They are the ones who ought to be shamed.